Monday, June 4, 2012

Armchair BEA Intro!

Oh haayyyyy Armchair BEA-ers! Thanks for stopping by; I cannot wait to meet y'all and make all the actual BEA-ers jealous of the fabulous fun times we are having this week. For any of you who would like to join me I am going to do as much of this as I can PANTSLESS, just to prove the ways in which Armchair BEA can exceed the actual thing (though I do have a lunch date with some Random House editors on Tuesday, so I might consider putting on pants for that)....

Make sure to say hello here or on Twitter so we can get to know one another! But onto the good stuff, here's my five intro Q&As:

1 Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?
Who am I? WHO AM I? I am the guardian of lost souls. I am the powerful, the pleasurable, the indestructible Slush Sleuth. I'm pretty hot, huh? (A little Mulan humor, for anyone who got that, and apologies ahead of time for anyone who didn't, because I tend to make a lot of non-sequitur pop culture references...)

But anyways, my name is Kelsey. I'm a recent college grad living in the big city. Bright eyed, big dreamer, travel lover, and apparently literate enough to keep some semblance of a book blog going. You can read more on my About Me page. Umm... I think *technically* I posted my first post sometime last August, but this blog didn't really come into being until the last month or so once I graduated college and didn't have so much thesis-izing to do. I interned in the editorial department at Random House Books for Young Readers last summer, and they were downsizing space from something like 40 floors to 17, so they had to get rid of a lohhtt o' books that wouldn't fit, and lemme tell you, despite the fact that I wasn't paid for my internship, I definitely got my money's worth from the box after box of books those lovely people bequeathed me. Sooo, short answer is I had a lot of new books to read and I missed writing coverage for manuscript submissions so I started Slush Sleuth (the title being a reference to the slush pile that I dutifully worked my way through while I was le intern fabulous).

2 What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?
I just finished Gilt by Katherine Longshore on audio, and started my ARC of Rachel Hartman's Seraphina. If you look in my sidebar, you'll see my "List of Ten" which is the next ten books I challenged myself to read.

So far this year, I think my favorite new release was Catching Jordan by Miranda Keannelly or Hallowed by Cynthia Hand, my favorite audio The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, and my favorite backlist the If I Stay series by Gayle Forman.

And yeah, yeah, I know I totally cheated on that answer by giving you five. Full disclosure: sometimes I cheat at Monopoly too.

3 Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.
Ummm... uhhh....

No, I promise I'm an interesting person! I just don't do well on the spot. I'm only witty when I forget to be.....

I have a weird love of pumpkins? I never owned a cardigan until last year and now I own probably 30? Last night I made out with a guy whose name I totally can't remember today? (No... on second thought I probably shouldn't tell you that...)

Oh! Oh! I know! So after high school I took a semester off and studied at the University of St. Andrews, then I hitched hiked across Europe and made what was likely a series of poor decisions with a very concerned ex-boyfriend in tow all in the name of charity. Lemme tell you something about hitchhiking: there are a lot of really dreadful people in the world. But there are also a lot of incredible, wonderful ones as well.

4 Where do you see your blog in five years?
Oh, you know, the ushe. With 6.8 billion followers and all kinds of sponsors and stuff. Or maybe just 6 billion followers since not everyone in the world has access to internet. I like to be practical about these things.

5 If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?
Ohmigosh I love this question! Ok. OK. So, obviously I would invite Richelle Mead, Rachel Hawkins, and Kiersten White AND they would be required to bring along their characters Rose, Sophie, and Evie and we would all go out to dinner and there would be SO MUCH SNARK and it would be FABULOUS and then afterwards we would go out for drinks where we would meet up with the wonderful, hilarious Tahereh Mafi and she would bring along Warner and he would obviously do something psychotic and then I would get to see the Snark-Trio that is Rose/Sophie/Evie lay down the law with bad-ass force/tasie/magic and show Warner who is boss. Then we would all do shots and maybe some karaoke for good measure, because all really sloppy fun drunk nights should involve some level of public embarrassment.

54 comments:

  1. Ahh I think it's so awesome you interned at Random House! I would love the free books too! I really admire you for hitchhiking across Europe. It's something I'm too afraid of doing but it definitely sounds like an adventure. :)

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  2. I just have to say I think you are hilarious and witty and reading this post made my day :D I also got the Mulan reference (LOVE.IT <3 )

    I am jealous you got to intern at Random House and got loads of free books, that is like every blogger's dream (well... at least mine!)

    Thanks for sharing :D

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  3. Haha your post cracked me up (10 points for a Mulan ref). I can't wait to read Gilt, I'm obsessed with the Tudor period so I'm drooling over that one.

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  4. LOL I cheat too, but I'm also really, really bad at following rules. Last year somebody yelled at me because I didn't follow the rules for a best of 2011 post and I was like, DUDE, DON'T JUDGE ME! I DON'T KNOW WHAT RULES ARE! le sigh.

    I loved Gilt. It was SO GOOD. And I can't wait to get to Seraphina! it sounds amazing. x) (it's actually by Rachel Hartman, not Hawkins.)

    my introduction post.

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    1. Thank youuu! I looked at the clock at 11:45 and panicked when I realized I hadn't started this post yet... reading over it now and there are a lot of pretty horrific typos. Fixing now. La la la..

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  5. Hi Kelsey *waves* I LOOVE your blog name & banner - so cute. Reminds me of Nancy Drew, a series I was obsessed with growing up. But yours is like... the grown up version! Your internship sounded interesting - and free boxes of books? AWESOME! I looove your humor and personality, you seem so fun :) It's been nice to "meet" you - maybe I'll see you around ArmchairBEEA again ;)

    My introduction post

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  6. Your internship sounds amazing and not just for the whole box of books!

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  7. Oh man. I already love you. You're hilarious, and this blog post made my entire, ENTIRE Sunday worth living. I love that you interned for Random House. Hello dreamy job. Wow. And I just got home from 6 weeks in Europe. I hitchhiked too! Although it was by train. I'm a complete pansy, and could never talk to a stranger... even though I'm about to turn a 1/4 century this month. Anyway, I'm one more blogger towards your 6 million (I can count for the .8 without Internet, right?).

    - Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl

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  8. Holy crap, girl. So...when can we hang out? I mean, seriously...because it sounds like you're an absolute blast to have around! Haha! And I'm always glad to see pictures in intro posts. It's so nice to put a face to the name, you know?

    P.S. Yay for pantsless blogging and Mulan! I just actually watched Mulan with my roomie last night. :)

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  9. This is why I love bookish events like this because it's all about meeting people and enjoying their posts as much as I just enjoyed yours! 1. Can I PLEASE join you on that dinner!? That would probably be the BEST dinner EVER and I totally want a piece of it! :] 2. You are hilarious! I already love you! 3. Definitely a new follower! Great meeting you!!

    Here's my post: http://little-red-reads.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-introductions.html

    xo Stephanie

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  10. haha you totally cracked me up!!!

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  11. I loved Rachel Hartman's Seraphina, just waiting to post closer to pub date. Nice to meet you!

    http://bloomingwithbooks.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-2012-interview-questions.html

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  12. Nice to meet you! I'm a lover of pumpkins too. How weird is that? In fact, I love pumpkin everything...bread, cookies, pie, cheesecake, shakes, candles, room spray, body spray...shall I go on. Yes, I love everything pumpkin!

    How great that you interned at Random House. A book lover's dream, I would think. =O)

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  13. hitchhiking ??? what a brave soul you are!!
    funny blog...love your sense of humor!

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  14. I'm completely in love with Tucker from Cynthia Hand's series, but I haven't gotten to Hallowed yet!

    You are hilarious, so I have to stalk, oh, I mean follow you!

    Mission to Read

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  15. I LOL'd at your Mulan reference! Go Disney movies!!! I really want to read The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight! I keep seeing it around and I really want to read it!

    Few follower!

    Here's my introduction

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  16. Isn't hitch-hiking Europe fun? Well, okay, I didn't quite hitch-hike, but I did do a sort of walking-with-a-few-flights road-trip tour of several places while I was there, and I loved it!

    Have fun this week!
    Armchair BEA Kick-off

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  17. Hitchhiking across Europe sounds amazing. Did you have any fears of being picked up by someone who seemed nice at the time, but then turned out to be Hannibal Lecter? Or did you force yourself not to worry about that stuff? Or did you just not think about it? I will be happy if I can make it to ONE European country on a plane before I kick the bucket. What a great experience.

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  18. How lucky you were to intern with Random House! I know that if I had gotten paid for that, I'd have just spent my check on books anyway, so why not skip the middle-man?

    Happy reading!
    Amanda

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  19. Love your answers! I'm jealous that you got to intern at Random House and hitch-hiked across Europe. I'd be way to skitzy to do that! So, was the guy who's name you can't remember at least cute?

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  20. You have quite an interesting life! I'm sorry to hear that some people weren't friendly to you on your hitchhiking journey. That is something for the storybooks!

    Happy reading!
    Kirthi

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  21. Sadly, I'm one of those that the Mulan reference went over the head. I know I shouldn't say this, but I haven't enjoyed a new Disney movie since the days of Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. I'm more of a Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, vintage kind of guy.

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    1. I love all things disney but your right, except for a few exceptions the classic disney movies where the best

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  22. Awesome blog!! its nice to meet you! I love any Disney movie!! Soo awesome that you were an intern at Random House! Welcome to Armchair BEA

    http://lovesbooksreviews.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-about-me.html

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  23. What a fun experience, working your way through the "slush" pile.

    I like your wit....and I think that blogging can help us share more, since I think it's easier to write down our thoughts than vocalize them.

    Maybe that's just me, though.

    Enjoyed your post! Here's MY ARMCHAIR BEA POST

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  24. What a fun internship! Sounds like you hit the jackpot....

    It's nice to meet you :)

    Kate @ Ex Libris

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  25. Oh my. YOU YOU YOU were an intern fir RANDOM HOUSE?!? you lucky duck you! SO JEALOUS!!! ACK!
    http://fiction-freak.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-self-interview.html?m=1

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  26. Bahahah... You know, I've always wondered how to spell "ushe," because I say it all the freaking time. But phonetically, I could not spell this non-word, for he life of me. So for that, I thank you! :) we've talked on twitter before, but I hadn't yet visited your blog. I can tell you right now that this won't be my last visit. You're hilarious.

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  27. so first off, I love your style. I can't say that i'm not jealous about random house! Lucky. I can't wait until I move to NYC next year!

    I'm def. a new follower!

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  28. Hi There!

    There is nothing quite like a HUGE pile of free books, is there? :D

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  29. You really should have answered all 10 questions because I had way too much fun reading your answers!

    I would totally love to be paid in books (if I didn't have adult responsibilities to contend with). Actually, a job that paid me to read books would be even better. I could be the next Naked Reading Lady... just slightly less naked.

    Oh, and a night full of snarky shenanigans would be delightful. Sounds like a typical shopping trip with my mom and grandma.

    The Flashlight Reader

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  30. Oh my goodness, getting paid in books is like getting paid in gold, isn't it?

    Now I want to know what the name of the guy is from last night...

    I love the name of your blog, and big dreamer & travel lover are phrases I can use in my own bio. I hope you get your 6.8 billion followers in 5 years!

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  31. Totes. Jealous. of the internship!!! Sigh...I wish I could've done something so awesome during the course of my college career...And the bookage! The bookage! Lovely ;o)

    You had me cracking up during your interview, Milady. I cannot wait to see what else you have up your sleeve, and I'm clicking "follow" now, haha :O)

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  32. Why can't books be a viable form of compensation? If I were ruler of the world, this would definitely happen.

    I'm so jealous of your internship. I bet it was an amazing (and obviously very rewarding) experience.

    It was nice to "meet" you! (Now let the completely-not-creepy stalking begin.)

    ~Christina (and the other Book Hookup Litbrarians)

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  33. OMG! You are so funny! And I so think you made out alright with that "unpaid" internship...what fodder for your blog...Nice look here by the way! Love your pink! Pinkim@TrulySimplyPink

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  34. The US dollar has gone so down hill that books would be a better form of currency. Your favorites list had me cracking up (as I too, have read all of those, and yay for audiobooks).

    Love your blog and happy BEA!

    Otherwhere.co Armchair BEA: Introductions

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  35. Oh my gosh! Totally get the cardigan thing - never had one and yet this past year, I have bought 17!! You can wear 'em with everything. :) Great minds think alike ;)

    It was so nice to meet you! Gorgeous, gorgeous blog! Armchair BEA @ the Brunette Librarian

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  36. Hi Kelsey! I loved Hallowed! It was amazing and I love that picture of Mushu! He's hilarious! :)

    My BEA Intro

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  37. I LOVE your answer to who would come to dinner! That is fabulous! And I giggled. A LOT.

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  38. I LOOOOVE Mulan!!! NOTHING is better than Mulan, seriously, with an intro like that, how can we NOT be friends?!?!?! I love traveling also. Nothing is better than going to new places! What places did you made poor decisions at in Europe? :p

    I was SUPPOSED to meet Richelle Mead on the 19th of this month buut I'm going on vacation on the 12th... I never hated traveling more! I was never more excited to meet an author in my life//: Maybe you can get to meet her? She's going on tour this summer :D

    Racquel @ The Book Barbies♥

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  39. Lol, you're hilarious :D I loved all your answers, it's the funniest intro I've read so far.

    After high school I took a semester off, too, but I didn't go hitchhiking :D

    New follower.

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  40. A fellow cardigan wearer, nice to meet you. You have fun wit about you, I like that.

    I have only 2 cardigans, but I like your passion:D

    have a great day

    Michelle:D

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  41. Nice to meet you! Love your sense of humour. :)

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  42. LOL Only Witty when you aren't thinking about it...your post is pretty witty and funny to me!!

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  43. Nice to meet you. Great post!! LOL.. Love your blog!!

    http://bellesbookbag.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-introductions-first.html

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  44. So now that you're free and living in NY, what are you going to do with your life???? hee, hee... make sure you have more fun!!! Just work on trying to remember names the day after, it'll make you look better ;)

    pssst. don't forget to turn off your captcha ;)

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    1. Kristin, thank you so much!! I spend so much time grumbling about captcha, and I may have never noticed that mine accidentally turned back on. Such hypocrisy!

      Re the name: I knnnoooowwwww. It's so unlike me. To be fair, I never expected mystery man to start texting all the time. I'm going to have to orchestrate a seriously sneaky situation to contrive stealing his name without admitting I don't know it. Just the thing for a sleuth, I suppose ;)

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  45. Welcome to the blogosphere.. Love your layout and your wit!!
    Here's my Intro post. Nice to meet you!

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  46. OMGosh. I seriously love your sense of humour. I literally laughed out loud at your answers. I still think it's so cool that you got to intern for Random House. And you got to take home all those books!

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  47. Holy smokes! You interned at Random House!! How cool is that?! That had to have been a great experience!! SO nice to meet you!

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  48. That sounds like the best internship ever lol. I don't think I could hitch hike so I give you lots of credit! Also, I love Sophie's snarky personality. I think those authors together would be hilarious! New Follower =)

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  49. Very cool, I took a trip in S. America and also made some poor choices, but I wouldn't trade anything for that experience. I'm looking forward to revisiting some of those places with my kids.

    http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

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  50. I also loved Catching Jordan! For anyone reading thru comments, it's a great summer read. Author is Miranda Kenneally.

    Stopping by for ArmchairBEA!

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Love all y'all! Thanks for commenting!!